08/10 ALLEN BALIK, CLUB ESSENCE, VOJTECH KACEROVSKY, CZECH TOURISM, ZDENEK CHROMY, R. JELINEK SLIVOVITZ DISTILLERY

ALLEN BALIK – NOTED WINE COLLECTOR, AUTHOR & EDUCATOR | PRESIDENT OF CLUB ESSENCE TALKS SUMMER WINE TRENDS

Allen is a noted wine collector and recognized authority on California and European wines. As a member of numerous tasting groups, Allen samples between 1,200 and 1,500 wines each year, for pleasure and education. He also serves as a consultant for restaurant and retail store buyers and evaluates wine for many panels and publications.

Allen is the Founder and Co-Chairman of A Culinary Evening with the California Winemasters – a Wine Spectator Top Ten Charity Wine Auction – that pairs the talents of 45 international chefs with 70 of California’s finest wineries.

In his travels, Allen has toured wine growing areas around the world and tasted at numerous wineries, chateaux, and domaines throughout the United States, France, Italy, Spain, Australia and Chile.

Allen co-authored Guide to Choosing, Serving and Enjoying Wine. Rather than another wine primer, the Guide demystifies wine, encouraging readers to try the beverage as a normal part of their mealtime enjoyment.

ABOUT CLUB ESSENCE:
Club Essence – Savor Life Through Wine is the first and only club of its kind dedicated to experiencing life’s greatest pleasures through wine.

There’s no cost – just FUN!!

Club Essence will transform your routine business meetings, dinners and personal entertainment into extraordinary occasions through the wonders of wine.

Learn how to enjoy wine to its fullest. Share the experience with your friends, clients, and the ones you love. Wine education is part of each event and is designed for the enjoyment of novices and experts alike within the same group.
Club Essence Co-Founder and President Allen Balik will personally plan, accompany and moderate each event. Click through to sign-up

At Club Essence it is our goal to make the whole wine experience more enjoyable and exciting while enhancing any meeting or meal. You’ll shine as you show your friends and clients how to enjoy life’s greatest pleasures through wine.

Napa Valley alone hosts more than 4 million guests each year. You can experience this region (as well as any other wine destination) in a completely unique style when you are a member of Club Essence!

WWW.SAVORLIFETHROUGHWINE.COM


VOJTECH KACEROVSKY – DIRECTOR, CZECHTOURISM LOS ANGELES

ABOUT CZECH TOURISM:
The Czech Republic is a modern and dynamic destination with a rich history and unique natural beauty.  The CzechTourism agency, along with its offices abroad ,ensures its successful presentation on the domestic and foreign markets. The Czech Tourism Authority - CzechTourism is a contributory organization of the Ministry for Regional Development and was established in 1993. Its significant partner agencies include domestic tourist regions, cities, municipalities and businesses.

WWW.CZECHTOURISM.COM


ZDENEK CHROMY - VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, MANAGING PARTNER AND CEO OF R. JELINEK SLIVOVITZ DISTILLERY

RUDOLF JELÍNEK a.s. is a joint stock company concerned with the production of alcoholic drinks, especially spirits which has an established tradition in Vizovice since 16th century. The company itself was founded at the end of the 19th in 1894. The products of our company are known in all corners of the Czech Republic. But they are not determined only for the home market. Our exports have enjoyed a tradition since 1934 and in recent years the volume is ever on the increase.

Our flag ship is Slivovitz, of which we produce a varied assortment (kosher, non-kosher, Gold, White etc.) and furthermore our trademark fruit brandies of the highest quality (e.g. pear brandy, apricot brandy, cherry brandy etc.).

DISTILLERY LAND 
The company RUDOLF JELÍNEK a.s., founded in 1894 is an historic firm, which is famed in particular for its production of fruit spirits (above all Slivovitz) typical for central Europe and of alcoholic drinks. The company RUDOLF JELINEK a.s. holds in high respect the tradition of distilling, whose beginnings hail back to the second half of 16th century, and wishes to make this known to the general public. It has therefore decided to play an active role in tourism and has established the tour and visiting center of Distillery Land.

It is not only wine and beer which help to spread the good name of Moravia, but also plum brandy and starorežná. Archaeological finds have confirmed that spirits were produced here from sometime around the 14th century. Thanks to the suitable climate, over 70,000 plum trees grew in the area around Vizovice. Not only plum brandy, but also pear brandy, cherry brandy and other spirits can be found in the Rudolf Jelínek Distillery Land in Vizovice. Familiarise yourself with the main principles of production of this traditional spirit on the standard (one-hour) or expert (two-hour) excursion. You will be introduced to the process with the aid of a video projection and you will see a distillation column as well as learning about distilling, rectification and equalisation processes. At the end, in the tasting room, you will try three types of high quality spirit free of charge (of course only if you are aged 18 or over).

EN.RJELINEK.CZ